Filene Welcomes Three New Research Council Members

From left, Bob Morgan, Eileen Rivera and Linda Bodie have joined the Filene Research Institute's research council.

Three credit union executives known for promoting banking technology have joined Filene Research Institute’s research council, the Madison, Wis., think tank said.

As members of the council, Linda Bodie of Element FCU, Bob Morgan of North Country FCU and Eileen Rivera of SkyOne FCU will help to plan Filene’s research topics, pilot Filene innovations at their credit unions, and contribute data and insights to researchers, said the Madison, Wis.-based organization.

Mark Meyer, CEO of Filene, said the new members were selected because of their commitment to technology and innovation.

“When searching out new candidates for the research council, we look for credit union leaders with a clear track record of innovation,” Meyer said.

“These three leaders play integral roles in continuing the advancement of the credit union movement. There’s no better way for us to set and adjust our research agenda than by doing it with those that will use the research,” Meyer said.

Filene said:

Bodie, Chief + Innovator at the $28 million Element Federal in Charleston, W. Va., has helped to digitize 99% of the 4,600-member credit union’s paper, streamlined business processes with technology and implemented electronic check deposit services.

Morgan, CEO at the $428 million, 30,000-member North Country in Burlington, Vt., is a Filene i3 alum and has CSE and CCE designations from the CUES Center for Applied Executive Management and the CUES CEO Institute. He previously served as chair of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions’ social responsibility and government relations committees.

Rivera, president and CEO at $365 million, 28,000-member SkyOne n Hawthorne, Calif., is a board member of the California Credit Union League and the RMJ Foundation’s board, which promotes financial literacy. She is a member of the CUNA awards committee, CUES and credit union advisory board for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Filene’s research council also includes these members:

Gerry Agnes, Elevations Credit Union, Boulder, Colo.

Thomas Boos, Billings Federal Credit Union, Billings, Mont.

Chris Catliff, North Shore Credit Union, North Vancouver, British Columbia